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SOULFORCE MEDIA ALERT: January 6, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Robyn Murphy, Director of Public Relations & Media
612-965-0838, robyn@soulforce.org
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(Lynchburg, VA) In response to today’s news that the Rev. Lonnie Latham, a prominent figure in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and senior pastor of South Tulsa Baptist Church, was arrested Tuesday for propositioning a male undercover police officer, Soulforce founder Rev. Dr. Mel White says, "No one should have to come out via an undercover sting operation. That is its own evil. Until the Southern Baptist Convention ends their spiritual violence against gay and lesbian people, tragedies like this will continue."
Soulforce exists as an organization to end spiritual violence against LGBT people. "The false anti-gay teachings of the Southern Baptist Convention have claimed yet another victim," said Robyn Murphy, Director of Public Relations and Media, for Soulforce. "Many people are attacking Rev. Latham for his hypocrisy, but instead we should be asking ‘what informs that hypocrisy’? The answer is the SBC’s vicious and non-stop campaign of defamation against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and same-gender families."
Jamie McDaniel, a spokesperson for Soulforce who works to change the anti-gay polices of the SBC, said, "It’s unconscionable that so many, like Rev. Latham, have never been told the truth that they can live with dignity and express their God-given sexuality in ways that are open, honest, loving, and life-affirming. Trapped by Southern Baptist misinformation, many people of faith think their only option is to live a dark and secretive double-life. The SBC needs to be held accountable for causing this kind of needless suffering."
The Southern Baptist Convention, with over 15 million members, is the 2nd largest denomination in the United States. Southern Baptist teachings are a primary source of misinformation about homosexuality and homosexual people. Southern Baptist leaders also attempt to rally their congregations to defeat nearly every piece of legislation that would help LGBT Americans gain equality. In the past, the Southern Baptist Convention simply condemned homosexuals with anti-gay rhetoric, but in recent years Southern Baptists have stated their intention to "minister" to gays and lesbians by promoting ex-gay programs and so-called "reparative" therapy.
Soulforce’s purpose is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance. For more information go to www.soulforce.org.